"I don’t think about whether I will succeed. Since I’ve chosen a distant shore, I will only press on, through wind and rain..."

"If you’re talking about me behind my back, it just means my life is much more exciting than yours. All right, that concludes today’s midday broadcast. I’m your announcer, Xia Zhaoyun..."

Turning off the equipment, He Qingran couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up. "Yunyun, you’re just incredible. That last line was on purpose, wasn’t it? Only you would dare say something like that. I’m seriously impressed!"

In less than a day, she had discovered that her friend was even more amazing than before. She had complimented her so much she was starting to feel numb!

He Qingran thought about how she usually just broadcasted timidly, trying her best not to make any mistakes. Yet Xia Zhaoyun came in and did it like it was child’s play, effortlessly exceeding all expectations.

But after saying that, she pinched Xia Zhaoyun’s mouth. "Give a girl a break! Please be quiet for two minutes!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Xia Zhaoyun couldn’t help but push her hand away and chuckle.

A knock sounded at the door. He Qingran instinctively looked at Xia Zhaoyun, mouthing, "I bet it’s that busybody!"

However, when she opened the door, it was a young man in a green uniform. After a salute, he grinned, showing off his white teeth, and asked, "Excuse me, is Comrade Xia Zhaoyun here?"

He Qingran was taken aback. She stepped aside and pointed at Xia Zhaoyun. "She is."

The young man pulled two tickets from his pocket and handed them over. "Comrade Xia Zhaoyun, these are two concert tickets from our Mr. Huo and Elder Pei, who are Huo Tianhao’s grandparents. The concert is tonight at seven o’clock in the City Auditorium."

"Mr. Huo and Elder Pei said they’re too old for these artsy events and the tickets would just go to waste. They thought it would be better to give them to their granddaughter-in-law so she can see a bit more of the world. Please, Comrade Xia Zhaoyun, you must accept them. Don’t let this rare artistic feast go to waste!"

He Qingran’s heart skipped a beat. This concert had been in the works for months. It was a high-profile event that ordinary people couldn’t get into. Anyone who managed to get a ticket would be the object of intense envy.

But she also knew that Xia Zhaoyun, to show she had integrity, had only gotten involved with Huo Tianhao and wasn’t seeking the benefits that came with the connection. So this time, they would have to painfully refuse...

However, Xia Zhaoyun took them with a light laugh. "Thank you. And sorry to have troubled you to make this trip."

"Please also say hello to Grandpa and Grandma for me. I’ll go visit them when I have a free day."

The young man smiled and nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course! Little Xia, Mr. Huo and Elder Pei don’t have much to do at home on most days. They love it when the younger generation comes over to liven things up."

Once the man was gone, He Qingran was a little confused. "Yunyun, why did you accept them?"

Xia Zhaoyun examined the tickets as if they were a rare treasure. "This is a first-meeting gift from Brother Hao’s grandparents. By accepting it, we’re essentially acknowledging our relationship."

"The concert tickets are very valuable, but I’m not some ungrateful freeloader. Of course I’ll repay them in other ways."

"Brother Hao," He Qingran said, her feelings complicated. "Yunyun, are you getting a little too into character?"

Xia Zhaoyun carefully put the tickets away and said with a smile, "He’s a hero, and he used to be so handsome, charming, young, and accomplished. I’ve really lucked out, landing this role."

"Even though I don’t have any expectations for men, I’m still a woman. I dream about being deeply loved and cherished. Since other men are unreliable, why can’t I admire this hero?"

"Ranran, no matter the reason, now that I’ve taken on this role, I have to treat it seriously. Even if my feelings for him aren’t as deep as I let on, I’ll still treat him like real family. Besides you, my friend, he’s all I have."

He Qingran pressed her lips together tightly. "Yunyun..."

The next moment, Xia Zhaoyun raised an eyebrow, reverting to her usual smug expression. "Besides, is there any man in this world truly worthy of me, Xia Zhaoyun? I suppose Brother Hao, the hero in everyone’s eyes, just barely makes the cut!"

"Xia Zhaoyun!" He Qingran said through clenched teeth. "If I ever worry about you again, I’m an idiot."

Xia Zhaoyun laughed and slung an arm around her neck. "Ranran, hurry up and ask for time off. We’ll buy some cookies and take the bus into the city. After the concert tonight, we probably won’t be able to make it back, so we’ll need to get a letter of introduction to stay at a hotel."

"I’ve never stayed in a hotel in my whole life..."

This time, it was He Qingran’s turn to lift her chin. "You country bumpkin! Never even stayed in a hotel? How pathetic!"

Without any delay, the two of them asked for time off, bought some cookies, snacks, and candy, then returned to their dorm to change. They dressed up nicely, grabbed their bags, and rushed to the bus station.

The bus station in front of the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory was a major stop, and it was the starting point for a direct line to the city.

When they arrived, a bus was already waiting.

They bought their tickets and got on. He Qingran was laughing and talking when she saw a few people on the bus. Her steps faltered, and she nudged Xia Zhaoyun, who was behind her.